How are stand up pouches made?

A brief HISTORY

So what is a stand up pouch? Simply put, it’s bag/pouch that has the ability to stand on its own. The original stand up pouch design was actually patented in 1968. However, it wasn’t until the patent expired did the stand up pouch revolution begin. The stand up pouch design and construction have evolved over the years to include innovative design features like the reclosable zipper, convenient tear notches for easy opening, and some styles have a window for easy viewing. Today, the stand up bag is the go-to packaging choice for many well-known brands. Companies are using these airtight bags for candy packaging, coffee packaging, tea packaging, pet packaging, beauty product packaging, and more.

The CONSTRUCTION

A stand up pouch is made of multiple layers of barrier materials that have been laminated together to create one continuous sheet. The barrier materials and bag construction determine the durability and shelf life of your packaging. The chosen materials also determine the potential risk of bag punctures, leaks, and tears. Therefore, choosing a higher quality bag will ultimately mean fewer problems down the road. There are typically 2-3 layers in the construction of a stand up pouch. There is an outer layer, a middle layer, and an inner layer. Each layer provides a barrier of protection to protect and preserve the contents from environmental elements including moisture, UV light, oxygen, and external odors.

The OUTER Layer

Copious Bags® offers several exterior options; natural kraft paper, black kraft paper, clear, and our matte frosted exterior. The outer layer of the pouch communicates your brand message and what draws a customer to your product. The natural kraft paper pouches have an earth-friendly, all natural, small-scale production look and feel. Nothing says NATURAL like kraft paper. Whereas, the black kraft paper stand up pouches have a powerfully alluring look that is combined with the natural feel and texture of kraft paper. But, keep in mind, kraft paper is not used solely for its good looks. Quality kraft paper is strong, extremely durable. It has a resistance to punctures and tears. The porous, natural texture of kraft paper makes it ideal for labeling and hand stamping. Our matte frosted stand up pouches have a very captivating and compelling look that will enhance any product. The greatest benefit of our matte frosted stand up pouches is that they are water-resistant. They too can be customized with labels, hand-stamped with permanent ink, and hot-stamped.

When it comes to packaging your products, you want to avoid using cheap, poorly constructed kraft paper pouches. Insist on high-quality natural kraft paper rather than inexpensive imitation kraft paper. Insist on Copious Bags®. There is no substitute.

The MIDDLE Layer

This middle layer can be made of different film materials, but most commonly used is either (AL) aluminum foil, (VMPET) a metalized film, (PET or PETE) polyethylene terephthalate.

(AL) Aluminum Foil – an aluminum foil layer barrier keeps your product fresh for approximately 20 months, compared to 13 months when metalized (VMPET) barrier film is used. Aluminum foil film has a much higher end appearance and offers better protection. Copious Bags® uses only aluminum foil to line our bags, never metalized.

(VMPET) – a metalized film often used in lower quality packaging. Although it does offer barrier protection, this cheaper material does not offer the long-term protection that aluminum foil does. This metalized film has a metallically appearance and is not very appealing to the customers when the bags are opened.(PET OR PETE) – a thermoplastic polymer resin of the polyester family that’s used in packaging for food and beverages, personal care products, and many other consumer products.

The INNER layer

The inner layer a stand up pouch is extremely important, especially when using them for food packaging. The inner lining is the material that comes into direct contact with your product. The most common material used for stand up pouches is (LLDPE) linear low-density polyethylene. This material is used widely throughout the packaging industry because it is FDA approved and is safe for direct contact with food.

The inner layer is also what makes Copious Bags® stand up pouches heat sealable. Heat sealing your bags gives your product a tamper-evident seal, thereby giving your customer the confidence and assurance that the product has not been opened or tampered with.

The GUSSETED bottom

The expandable bottom gusset is what gives a stand up pouch the ability to stand freely on its own. Copious Bag® stand up pouches have a very sturdy, u-shaped gusseted which allows the pouch to stand prominently without collapsing.

Make the TRANSITION

The stand up pouch is dominating the packaging world. Top brands are transitioning from traditional rigid packaging such as jars, canisters, tins, and boxes to the flexible stand up pouch. The bags are stored flat whereby saving valuable retail space. And, because they are extremely lightweight, companies are saving a ton in shipping and freight costs.